EP1488629A4

EP1488629A4 - Digital storage arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1488629A4
Application number: EP03716508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Curtis H Bruner; John F Fletcher; Frida E Romauli Fletcher
Original assignee: Cornice Inc
Current assignee: Benhov GmbH LLC
Priority date: 2002-03-20
Filing date: 2003-03-12
Publication date: 2006-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-12
Also published as: HK1067007A1; EP1488629A2; WO2003081893A2; KR101156998B1; AU2003220212A1; EP1488629B1; US7440274B2; US20090080149A1; KR101037877B1; AU2003220212A8; KR20040104528A; JP2005521192A; US6956738B2; US20030179544A1; KR20100018092A; US7778022B2; WO2003081893A3; US20080101010A1; US20050185326A1; US7312982B2

Abstract

A digital storage arrangement is interfaceable with a host device which defines a cavity. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing a receivable in the cavity, with a movement margin between the housing (12) and host device, while a resilient support arrangement is provided for fixed engagement with the host device (30) and for engaging the housing, while extending through the movement margin, to support the housing within the storage device cavity and to subject the storage device (14) to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives a given mechanical shock. The resilient support arrangement provides support by extending from each corner region of the housing to the extend outwardly to the host device. The support arrangement is molded through an opening defined by the housing in each corner region to extend outwardly to the host device. A bumper configuration is provided integral with the support arrangement and including a sealing arrangement.

Description

DIGITAL STORAGE ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND

< The present writing relates generally to the field of arrangements for supporting Digital Storage Elements or other such devices which are sensitive to mechanical shock and. more particularly, to a highly advantageous resilient support arrangement for isolating a Digital Storage Element from the effects of a given mechanical shock. The present device and method provide additional advantages beyond mechanical shock isolation, as will be described. This writing discloses a digital storage element mechanical shock isolation arrangement in a host device and method.

12 As a class of devices, electromechanical digital storage arrangements are generally susceptible to mechanical shock. Hard disk drives are especially susceptible to mechanical shock during operation. In fact, upon the receipt of an electromechanical shock having a sufficient magnitude and frequency, it is well known that a hard disk drive may experience a catastrophic failure. The prior art, in coping with the potential effects of mechanical shock, has developed a number of approaches, as will be described below.

< As a first example of a prior art approach which attempts to mitigate the effects of mechanical shock on a hard disk drive, rubber grommets or "doughnuts" are used in mounting arrangements. A first implementation of this approach is illustrated by Figure 12 of U.S. patent number 5,706,168, issued to Erler et al (hereinafter the 168 patent), as well as an associated description which appears at column 11, lines 15-25. A grommet or rubber doughnut is described as having a receiving groove formed on its outer periphery. The grommet further defines a central fastener receiving hole. The peripheral receiving groove is used to capture each grommet within an aperture that is itself defined within a mounting bridge. The latter, in turn, supports a hard disk drive. A threaded fastener passes through the fastener receiving hole defined by the grommet and threadingly engages a boss. Accordingly, the mounting bridge is resiliently isolated by a plurality of rubber grommets so as to, in turn, isolate the hard disk drive.

J4 One typical and relatively simplistic implementation of the rubber grommet approach (not illustrated) does not rely on the use of a mounting bridge. Four mounting posts are threaded directly into the hard disk drive. A rubber grommet is then received on the mounting post. The host device then captures each rubber grommet about its peripheral groove, thereby providing for at least limited shock isolation.

%5 Either implementation of the rubber grommet isolation approach is at least somewhat effective in providing mechanical shock isolation, however, it should be appreciated that a number of problems accompany its use. For example, this approach may be considered as an anisotropic mounting arrangement. That is, shock attenuation properties vary with directional orientation. In particular, the shock attenuation properties in a direction oriented along the elongation axis of the mounting post are generally completely different from the isolation properties in a plane that is transverse to the mounting post and which bisects the rubber doughnut. For a force oriented along the elongation axis, the rubber doughnut is subjected to compression, extending uniformly about the circumference of the rubber doughnut. For all other force orientations, the rubber doughnut experiences at least some radial compression of only a portion of its circumference. Where a received force is orthogonal to a mounting post, the rubber doughnut experiences only partial radial compression. Hence, with variation of the orientation of received forces, an extremely complex multi-mode response interaction is exhibited by the rubber doughnuts ranging along a spectrum from uniform circumferential compression to partial radial compression or some combination thereof It is submitted that it is extremely difficult to control shock isolation properties with respect to these different responses, for example, with the intent of providing equal attenuation properties in every direction The present invention considers the rubber doughnut approach as being unacceptable in the instance where precision control of mechanical shock response is required, as will be further descπbed at an appropπate point hereinafter

f6 Another approach taken by the pπor art dealing with mechanical shock is represented by U S patent number

6,304,440 issued to Lin (hereinafter the '440 patent) The '440 patent further descπbes an external box for a hard disk drive that is electrically mterfaceable with a host computer, rather than a support arrangement for physically receiving a storage component within a host device The patent, however, descπbes a padded arrangement for housing the hard disk drive, as may be seen in its Figures 1 and 2 wherein a plurality of soft protecting pads 5, each of which includes a cyhndπcal configuration, apparently support the hard disk dπve witbm the external hard disk dnve housing A number of the protecting pads are mounted outward of a pair of fixing blocks which are themselves affixed along three edges of the hard disk dπve The bπef description within the patent appears to be devoid of any further description as to how the remaining protecting pads are attached or held place, if indeed, they are attached m place at all Moreover, no descπption has been found by Applicants which would lead Applicants to believe that the outward or free ends of any of the support pads are fixedly attached to the interior surfaces of the external case m any way While it is admitted that cushioning is provided by the support arrangement of the '440 patent, at the same time, it is submitted that the approach of this patent is problematic for a number of reasons, as will be described immediately hereinafter

1 Initially, it is submitted that the patent is devoid of any descπption with regard to implementing the mechanical shock protection scheme in view of a given mechanical shock force that is anticipated to be received by the external hard disk drive case In this regard, it should be appreciated that the response of any support arrangement varies not only with the magnitude of the mechanical shock received and its directional orientation, but also with the frequency of the received shock Still further complications are introduced since there is no descπption as to how many of the soft pads should be used at each surface of the hard disk dnve, how the pads should be arranged or how to keep them in that arrangement Further, no descπption is provided as to the material from which the soft pads are formed or for appropπately selecting suitable materials In and by themselves, these complications create significant conceit)-, with regard to implementing a precision shock protection arrangement

%8 With continuing reference to the '440 patent, the response of this arrangement is still further complicated by the outward, unconnected or free ends of the cyl dncal shock pads Since the free end of each pad is apparently intended to be held position only by a resilient bias force afforded by the pad itself compressed between the hard disk dnve and external case, maintaining any position of the free end of each pad is dependent upon the magnitude of the resilient bias force, as well as friction between the free end of the pad and the interior of the external case When a shock of a sufficient magnitude and frequency is received, it is submitted that the free ends of the pads will slip against the external case Upon slipping in this manner, it is uncertain whether the pads will return to their oπgmal positions Once the free ends of the pads are randomly displaced m such a way, any predictability as to the response of this arrangement to a given mechanical shock is certainly lost Over time, the position of the hard disk dπve may shift within the external hard drive case with shifting of the free ends of the soft pads in one direction or another. Of course, further unpredictability will be encountered where the pads permanently deform into curved configurations as a result of long-term free end displacement.

19 Like the '168 patent, described above, providing a controlled or equal response along or about different axes is considered, at the least, to be difficult using this arrangement. For example, the soft pads must respond in different ways depending upon the directional orientation of a received mechanical force. Where the latter is normal to one of the padded sides of the hard disk drive, those pads will compressively receive the force. In contrast, a mechanical force having a component directed across diagonally opposing corners of the hard disk drive will cause bending of the pads. That is, none of the pads in the entire arrangement are solely compressed by such a diagonally oriented mechanical shock force. Thus, the pads may respond in a complex multimode manner depending upon the directional orientation of a received force. This complexity is itself problematic where it is desired to implement a precision controlled shock response arrangement.

110 Still another prior art approach to the problem of dealing with mechanical shock forces received by a digital storage arrangement is exemplified by published U.S. patent application number 2001/0012175, by Williams et al., published on August 9, 2001 (hereinafter Williams). The Williams publication describes a hard disk drive to which a plurality of elastomeric bumpers is attached. Each bumper includes a shank that is pressed into an aperture defined by the hard disk drive. The utility of these bumpers is described in the context of dropping the hard disk drive onto an external surface during shipment so as to produce an impact load directly received by the hard disk drive. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the Williams disclosure does not show nor describe a bumper configuration for in situ or operational use, for example, within a host device. Moreover, the Williams disclosure appears to provide no description with regard to specific design considerations in view of the hard disk drive receiving a given mechanical shock, for instance, directly onto one of the described bumpers.

111 It is submitted that the present invention resolves the foregoing complications, problems and concerns in highly advantageous ways while providing still further advantages.

SUMMARY .

112 As will be described in more detail hereinafter, there is disclosed herein a digital storage arrangement with a support arrangement for use in a host device and method. The digital storage arrangement and host device, in combination, form an electronic assembly.

113 In one aspect of the present invention, a digital storage arrangement is electrically interfaceable with a host device which defines a storage device cavity. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing receivable in the storage device cavity in a way which provides a movement margin between the housing and the host device. Digital storage means, susceptible to a given mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent, is located within the housing. A flexible electrical interconnection arrangement is included for providing electrical communication between the digital storage means and the host device across the movement margin while a resilient support arrangement is provided for fixed engagement with the host device and for engaging the housing, while extending through the movement margin, to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives the given mechanical shock. In one feature, the housing includes a peripheral sidewall which defines a plurality of corner regions and the resilient support arrangement provides support by extending from each comer region to the host device. In another feature, the support arrangement is molded through an opening defined by the housing in each corner region to extend outwardly to the host device. In still another feature, a portion of the resilient support arrangement extends from within the peripheral sidewall to form a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device with movement of the housing relative to the host device. In yet another feature, the support members and the movement margin are cooperatively configured for permitting mechanically induced movement of the housing relative to the host device in six degrees of freedom to provide a controlled response for each one of six degrees of freedom. In a related feature, movement is constrained so that contact between the housing and the host device is avoided for the given shock force.

114 In another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage arrangement is interfaceable with a host device. The digital storage arrangement includes housing including a cover portion and a base portion selectively attachable with one another. At least the cover portion is formed from a sheet material which defines a plurality of through-holes and which includes an outer surface. Digital storage means is provided for location within the housing. A resilient arrangement includes a gasket portion that is integrally formed therewith for use in sealing attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another to seal the digital storage means within the housing. The resilient aπangement extends through each through-hole outwardly from the outer surface to form a resilient bumper outward of each through-hole so as to provide a plurality of resilient bumpers. A flexible electrical interface arrangement electrically connects the storage device and the digital storage means through the housing and a support arrangement supports the housing within the host device.

115 In still another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage arrangement is interfaceable with a host device. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing including a cover portion and a base portion that are selectively attachable with one another using a latching arrangement forming part of the cover portion and part of the base portion. Digital storage means is provided for location within the housing. A sealing arrangement is used for sealing the digital storage means within the housing between attached ones of the base poπion and cover portion. A flexible electrical interface arrangement is configured for providing electrical communication between the storage device and the digital storage means through the housing. A support arrangement supports the housing within the host device. In one feature, the cover portion is formed from a sheet material and the latching arms are stamped as an integral portion of the sheet material.

116 In yet another aspect of the present invention, a resilient arrangement is configured for use in a digital storage arrangement, including digital storage means that is electrically interfaceable with a host device and that is susceptible to a given mechanical shock. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing having a base portion and a cover portion that are selectively attachable with one another, while the host device defines a storage device cavity. The resilient arrangement includes a gasket portion that is integrally formed to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing. A support portion, that is integrally formed as part of the resilient arrangement, extends outwardly from the housing, and is configured for engagement with the host device to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives the given mechanical shock.

117 In a further aspect of the present invention, a method is described for producing a resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement including digital storage means that is electrically interfaceable with a host device and that is susceptible to a given mechanical shock. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing having a base portion and a cover portion that are selectively attachable with one another while the host device defines a storage device cavity. The method includes the step of integrally forming the resilient arrangement to include (i) a gasket portion for sealing attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another thereby sealing the digital storage means within the housing and (ii) a support portion for extending outwardly from the housing and configured for engagement with the host device to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives the given mechanical shock.

118 In a continuing aspect of the present invention, a resilient aπangement is disclosed for use in a digital storage aπangement including digital storage means. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing having a base portion and a cover portion, each having outer surfaces, such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another. The resilient aπangement includes a gasket portion for use in sealing attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another thereby sealing the digital storage means within the housing. A bumper portion is included that is integrally formed along with the gasket portion and that extends outwardly at least beyond one of the outer surfaces to form a plurality of resilient bumpers.

1 In another aspect of the present invention, a resilient arrangement is described for use in a digital storage aπangement which itself includes digital storage means. The digital storage arrangement further includes a housing having a base portion and a cover portion such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another. The resilient aπangement includes a sealing portion received in one of the base portion and the cover portion and is configured for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion to seal the digital storage means within the housing. A biasing portion forms another part of the resilient arrangement, separate from the sealing portion, but formed integrally therewith, for resiliently biasing engaged ones of the cover and base portion away from one another.

120 In still another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage configuration includes a housing including a cover portion and a base portion configured for cooperatively defining a housing cavity. Digital storage means is supported within the housing cavity. A recirculation filter is provided for filtering air within the housing cavity. An aπangement is used that is integrally formed from a resilient material (i) for sealing the cover portion against the base portion and (ii) for at least partially supporting the recirculation filter within the housing cavity. In one feature, the arrangement further serves to define, at least partially, a filter passage for directing air through the recirculation filter.

121 In yet another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage arrangement is electrically interfaceable with a host device. The digital storage arrangement includes digital storage means that is susceptible to a mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent. A base arrangement supports the digital storage means. A cover arrangement is attached to the base aπangement for housing the digital storage means within a cavity that is cooperatively defined by attached ones of the base aπangement and the cover arrangement in a way which permits movement of the base aπangement relative to the cover arrangement and the cover aπangement is configured for engagement by the host device such that the base aπangement, and digital storage means supported thereby, are at least partially isolated from mechanical shock received by the host device by movement of the base aπangement relative to the cover arrangement. In one feature, a resilient aπangement having a damping portion is positioned between the base aπangement and the cover aπangement such that a sufficient amount of relative movement between the base aπangement and the cover arrangement compresses the damping portion to isolate the base arrangement and digital storage means supported thereby from the mechanical shock.

122 In a continuing aspect of the present invention, a digital storage arrangement, which is electrically interfaceable with a host device and which includes digital storage means that is susceptible to a mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent, is produced by supporting the digital storage means using a base arrangement; attaching the base arrangement to a cover aπangement to position the digital storage means within a cavity that is cooperatively defined by the attached base arrangement and cover arrangement in a way which permits movement of the base arrangement relative to the cover aπangement; and configuring the cover arrangement for engaging the host device such that the base aπangement and the digital storage means supported thereby are at least partially isolated from the mechanical shock received by the host device by movement of the base arrangement relative to the cover arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

123 The present invention may be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings briefly described below.

124 FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, shown here to illustrate details of its construction including a highly advantageous resilient support aπangement and integral bumper aπangement.

125 FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the Digital Storage Element of Figure 1, shown here to illustrate further details of its structure.

126 FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the Digital Storage Element of Figures 1 and 2, shown installed within a host device to illustrate details of the installation including the manner in which the resilient support aπangement engages the host device.

127 FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of one comer of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, shown here to illustrate details of one of the resilient support arms or shock mounts, forming part of the resilient support aπangement, and showing further details with regard to the manner in which the support arm is engaged by the host device.

128 FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of a cover portion which forms part of the housing of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, shown here to illustrate one potential implementation of the cover portion including its corner configurations, apertures defined by the cover portion and latching members. 129 FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the cover portion of Figure 5 including a resilient aπangement which is molded to the cover portion for use in resiliently supporting the Digital Storage Element, for sealing the Digital Storage Element and for protecting the Digital Storage Element from contact with the host device using a bumper configuration.

130 FIGURE 7a is an enlarged, partial view, in perspective, of one corner of the cover portion of Figure 6, shown here to illustrate details of a resilient aπangement including a corner portion from which a resilient support arm extends.

131 FIGURE 7b is an diagrammatic, partial view, in perspective of another comer of the cover portion of Figure 6, shown here to illustrate details of an integrally formed recirculation filter support arrangement, which itself forms a portion of the highly advantageous resilient aπangement of the present invention.

132 FIGURE 7c is a diagrammatic enlarged view of a portion of the illustration of Figure 7b, shown here to illustrate details of the highly advantageous recirculation support arrangement of the present invention.

133 FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic, enlarged view, in perspective, of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, shown here to illustrate the installation of a base portion within the cover portion. A bottom-side bumper configuration is further illustrated that is integrally formed with the comer portions of the resilient aπangement.

134 FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the base portion of the Digital Storage Element, shown here to illustrate details with regard to the components that are supported by the base portion and to illustrate the configuration of a peripheral sealing rim and associated latching member recesses for use in attaching the base portion to the cover portion.

135 FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic, enlarged cross-sectional view of a peripheral comer region of the cover portion, taken along a line 10-10 in Figure 7, shown here to illustrate details of a gasket portion of the resilient arrangement, including a peripheral sealing collar or lip and a resilient biasing pedestal that is shown having a conical configuration. A latching member is further illustrated for purposes of engaging one of the latching recesses shown in Figure 9.

136 FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic, enlarged cross-sectional view of the comer region of the cover portion, as shown in Figure 10 and further illustrating engagement of the base portion with the cover portion, showing cooperation between the latching member and latching recess as well as the functionality of the biasing pedestal which operates independently of the peripheral sealing collar.

137 FIGURE 12 is the diagrammatic, enlarged cross-sectional view of the corner region of the cover portion, as shown in Figure 11, engaged with the base portion, showing movement of the cover portion relative to the base portion which compresses the biasing pedestal.

138 FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic enlarged view, in perspective, of one corner of the cover portion of the Digital Storage Element, shown here to illustrate an alternative embodiment of the shock mounting arm or resilient support arm of the present invention. 139 FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic enlarged view, in perspective, of one comer of the cover portion of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, showing the outside of the comer and illustrating details of an alternative latch member for use m attaching the cover portion to a base portion

140 FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic, enlarged view, perspective, of the comer of the cover portion shown in Figure 14, but showing the interior of the cover portion at this co er for purposes of illustrating further details of the alternative latch member

141 FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic, enlarged cross-sectional view, taken generally along a line 16-16 in Figure 14, illustrating details with respect to a highly advantageous and integrally formed comer bumper that is produced in accordance with the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

142 Turning now to the figures wherein like components are designated by like reference numbers throughout the various figures, attention is immediately directed to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate a Digital Storage Element produced m accordance with the present invention and generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 Digital Storage Element 10 includes a housing 12, a digital storage device 14 and a flexible electncal interface connector 16 having a connection end 18 for electrically connecting digital storage device 14 with a host device to be descπbed in further detail hereinafter It is noted that electπcal interface connector 16 includes features which enhance its flexibility with relative movement of the Digital Storage Element in any potential direction In the present example, a plurality of elongated slots 19 are provided for this purpose

143 Still refemng to Figures 1 and 2, digital storage device 14 is diagrammatically illustrated and may compnse any suitable form of storage which is susceptible to mechanical shock such as, for example, hard disk drives, electro-optical drives or any other form of such device yet to be developed The present invention is particularly useful with regard to hard disk dπves since such dπves are particularly susceptible to mechanical shock, especially duπng data access operations It should be appreciated that Digital Storage Element 10 is configured for use within a host device which defines a cavity for receiving the Digital Storage Element The latter includes a resilient arrangement 20 having a plurality of support arms 22 that extend outwardly from each co er of ihe digital storage drrdngemeni While a housing having four co ers is illustrated, it should be appreciated that any suitable form may used for the housing and that comers are not a requirement In this particular example, the comer regions are beveled for the purpose of providing sufficient volume in which to contain the support arms while, at the same time, maintaining a relatively small suπoundmg clearance or movement margin between the Digital Storage Element and the host device Any housing may be configured in this manner so as to accommodate the support arms The illustrated support arms, which may also be referred to as shock mounts, are best seen in the perspective view of Figure 1 and are specifically configured to engage a host device a way which resiliently supports the Digital Storage Element within the host device, as will be descnbed in further detail at appropπate points hereinafter

144 Turning now to Figures 3 and 4 conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, a host device is diagrammatically illustrated and indicated by the reference number 30 Refemng specifically to Figure 3, host device 30 includes a pair of opposing walls 32 and 34 which define a storage device receiving cavity 36 therebetween that is configured for housing Digital Storage Element 10 Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view of one comer of Digital Storage Element 10 which illustrates details of the configuration of one of support arms 22 Each support arm includes an outwardly extending beam portion 38 having a rectangular cross-section Beam portion 38 extends to a support column 40, which is cylindrical m configuration, and is integrally formed with beam portion 38 Each support column defines an elongation axis 42 that is generally normal to upper and lower major surfaces 44a and 44b, respectively, of Digital Storage Element 10 at least when the support arm is in a relaxed state Each support arm defines a pair of opposing, upper and lower support surfaces that are indicated by the reference numbers 46 and 48, respectively It is noted that the terms "upper" and "lower" are used throughout this disclosure for descriptive purposes only and are in no way intended to be limiting In the present example, support surfaces 46 and 48 include a convex, cupped, mverse-conical or self-centering configuration, any functionally equivalent shape is considered as interchangeable in this capacity Moreover, surfaces 46 and 48 may be pierced for retention purposes or retained in any other suitable manner As will be seen, Digital Storage Element 10 may be supported in a resilient manner by biasing these opposing support surfaces toward one another so as to compress support column 40 therebetween It is to be understood that the configuration of the support arms may be modified any suitable manner and that such modifications are considered as being withm the scope of the appended claims so long as the teachings herein are applied For example, the specific, illustrated and descnbed geometπc shapes such as the cyhndncal form of support column 40 and the rectangular form of beam 38 are shown for descnptive purposes only and are not required Suitable matenals from which the support arms may be formed include, but are not limited to a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermosett g elastomer such as, for example, rubber and fluorocarbon elastomer Any suitable mateπal yet to be developed may also be utilized in view of this descnption Generally, the support arms are formed by the process of molding including those currently known molding processes such as, for example, injection molding and pot transfer molding Any suitable molding process that is yet to be developed is likewise applicable Specific details with regard to design considerations m the implementation of the support arms will also be set forth below

145 Refemng to Figures 3 and 4, column ends 40 of the support arms cooperate with the host device to resiliently support Digital Storage Element 10 in a highly advantageous way Specifically, with reference to Figure 3, upper opposing wall 32, as well as lower opposing wall 34 of host device 30 each support a set of four mounting posts or pedestals 50 that are configured to engage opposing upper and lower support surfaces 46 and 48 of column ends 40 of the support arms Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of one comer of Digital Storage Element 10 showing details of one of support arms 22 and an opposing pair of mounting pedestals that are indicated by the reference numbers 50a and 50b and which are moveable towards one another to engage the support column of the illustrated support arm In this regard, the upper and lower sets of mounting pedestals supported by upper opposing wall 32 and lower opposing wall 34, respectively, are themselves supported m a manner which provides for installation of the Digital Storage Element between the opposing sets of mounting pedestals For example, the housing of a host device may include one of opposing walls 32 or 34 as part of its external case having one set of mounting pedestals attached thereto The other one of the opposing walls may be provided the form of a mounting plate which itself supports the other set of mounting pedestals Further, a set of threaded bosses 52 may also be mounted onto, for example, lower opposing wall 34 These bosses include a length which provides a selected separation distance between the opposing sets of mounting pedestals so as to compress support column 40 of each support arm by an appropπate amount in an installed condition Installation of the Storage Element is accomplished by positioning the support arms onto the lower set of pedestals 50 and then positioning the upper set of mounting pedestals onto the support arms using a mounting plate serving as upper opposing wall 32. Mounting pedestals 50 include a conical, self-centering end configuration, seen in Figure 4, for engaging the support surfaces of shock mount column 40. Thereafter, a set of fasteners 54 may be used to threadingly engage the bosses so as to affix the mounting plate thereto. As the fasteners engage the bosses, column ends 40 of the support arms are compressed and thereby captured between opposing ones of the mounting pedestals, as illustrated in Figure 3. As will be appreciated, the self-centering support configuration at the ends of support columns 40 of the shock mount arms cooperate with the self-centering configuration of mounting pedestals 50 to retain the column ends of the support arms at least over a contemplated range of mechanical shock force.

146 .Having described the structure of the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, including its integral resilient support arrangement, it is now appropriate to discuss design details which are of importance with regard to mechanical shock attenuation. For an impulse of very short duration (i.e. a mechanical shock of high frequency), a significant portion of the applied load or input mechanical shock is resisted by the inertia and the stiffness of the Storage. Element. The shock response is not governed by the shock amplitude only. The shock input duration or frequency plays an important role in the structure response and will be explained below.

147 Damping is of considerably less importance in controlling the maximum response of a structure to impulsive (shock) loads while it is of more importance for periodic and harmonic loads such as, for example, vibrations. Stated in a slightly different way, the maximum response to an impulsive load is reached in a very short time, before the damping forces can absorb significant energy from the structure. In contrast, during non-shock vibration, system damping properties merit relatively careful consideration.

148 Shock attenuation, as well as amplification, depends on a ratio between the frequency of the input shock and a natural frequency of the system. Over a certain range of this frequency ratio, shock movement amplitude of the Digital Storage Element is attenuated, while outside this range, the shock movement amplitude may be amplified or unattenuated. Therefore, for a given range of shock frequencies, the resilient support system of the present invention may be designed such that the ratio between the system natural frequency and the shock frequency is within the attenuation range. With regard to vibration, it should be noted that the vibration transmissibility is a function of a ratio between the vibration frequency and the resilient support system's natural frequency.

149 The natural frequency of the resilient support system depends not only on its mass but also on its stiffness (or flexibility). The stiffness (or flexibility) of the system depends on a number of factors including its resilient support geometry and its resilient support material properties such as, for example, Young's moduli (generally referred to as "moduli" or "modulus") and densities of various components.

150 In accordance with the present invention, the Digital Storage Element is resiliently suspended within the host device, and connected thereto by attachments in the form of its support arms. In doing so, the flexibility or stiffness of the resilient support system is mainly governed by the geometry, size, and modulus of the support arms. In this way, the natural frequencies of the system may be manipulated by changing the support arm geometry and/or its component material without affecting the general internal configuration of the digital storage device itself. It should be appreciated that the support arms are under mechanical stress even when the host device is in a static state under the influence of gravity. Upon the receipt of a mechanical shock by the host device, movement of the Digital Storage Element relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on the resilient support arms.

151 With regard to the resilient support arrangement, it should be appreciated that the energy absorbed by each component part of the system during a mechanical shock event is proportional to the deformation and/or displacement of that individual part. In providing flexible support arm attachments, these latter elements deform to permit the Digital Storage Element to move or deflect in all six degrees of freedom within the confines of the host device. In view of the teachings herein, the resilient support arm aπangement may be designed to provide a controlled response to a given shock force within a given movement margin around the Digital Storage Element with respect to three orthogonally arranged axes (i.e., x,y,z) such that movement of the Digital Storage Element does not exceed constraints that are imposed by the available movement margin in six degrees of freedom. That is, movement of the Digital Storage Element is constrained so as to avoid contacting the host device for the given force because the support members and the movement margin are cooperatively configured for permitting mechanically induced movement of the housing relative to the host device in six degrees of freedom, thereby providing a predetermined or controlled degree of attenuation for each one of the six degrees of freedom. In this regard, it should be appreciated that mechanical forces will generally induce components of movement in all six degrees of freedom. Because the Digital Storage Element is stiff in comparison to the support arms, movement of the Digital Storage Element may be characterized, at least initially, as rigid body motion. During shock induced movement, a major portion of input energy is absorbed by the attachment deformation of the support arms accompanied by rigid body motion components of the Storage Element. A lesser degree of input energy is therefore transfeπed to the components within the Digital Storage Element (i.e. the digital storage device housed therein). If the support arm attachments are made more stiff, the internal components of the Digital Storage Element experience coπespondingly greater levels of transfeπed shock.

152 Further considering materials for use in forming the shock mounts of the present invention, it is to be understood that changes in the response of candidate materials with temperature is of substantial importance and may be the most limiting factor. Stated in a slightly different way, changes in the properties of interest (shock response as well as vibration damping) are generally most dynamic against changes in temperature. Of course, any number of additional factors should be considered such as, for example, the influence of aging on the properties of interest.

153 With regard to specific design techniques used in the implementation of the resilient support aπangement of the Digital Storage Element, it should be appreciated that, due to the relative complexity and the high non-linearity of the problem, Finite Element methods are typically used in an overall iterative process. Specifically, a simplified model is initially developed wherein the host device and the Digital Storage Element include rigid or stiff surfaces which may be modeled with beams and or shell elements. The Digital Storage Element is contained within the cavity defined inside the host, and connected to the host at the corner regions using flexible attachments (i.e., representing the support arms).

154 The flexible co er attachments may, at least initially, be modeled using beam elements including a sufficient number of elements so as to represent several mode shapes seen in the bending and deformation of the flexible support arms. It is noted that, in this problem, one reason for positioning the support arms at the comer regions resides in maintaining a high level of control over movement of the Digital Storage Element with respect to the host device since the movement margin between these two bodies is intended to be very small, for example, on the order of 0.5 mm suπounding the Digital Storage Element. Where the space between the two bodies is relatively larger, the support arms are more readily positioned away from the comer regions. Of course, having accomplished an initial analysis, further iterations may be directed to support arrangements that are not specifically attached at the corner regions. For example, support members are contemplated in the form of elastic webs which may be attached along the lengthwise edges of the Digital Storage Element for additional connection to the host device. All of these modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present invention so long as resilient support is accomplished through the application of the teachings herein.

155 As part of this analysis, a maximum static deflection of the support arms is determined including the influence of the weight of the Storage Element. The host device is considered as being in a static condition. The maximum static deflection must be less than or equal to the allowable deflection, as defined by the cavity in which the Digital Storage Element is received. That is, the allowable deflection is equal to or less than the space between the host device and the Digital Storage Element on any one side of the Digital Storage Element. A low modulus material should be selected for use in forming the shock mounts. The selected material should also include an acceptable damping property for purposes of vibration damping. If the maximum static deflection exceeds the allowable deflection, the support arm stiffness must be increased. A minimum stiffness is found when the Digital Storage Element static deflection is equal to the defined allowable deflection.

156 Support arm stiffness, denoted as K„ , is a function of E, L, and I or R where

• E = Young's modulus

• L = length of the support arm » B = width of the support arm

• H = height of the support arm

• I = moment of inertia - cross section - (B H³)/12 for support arm with rectangular cross section

• R = radius of cross section (for support arm with circular cross section)

157 Accordingly, for a support arm having a rectangular cross section, the support arm stiffness is:

(1) K_a ~ E I / L³ for a support arm having a circular cross section, the support arm stiffness is:

(2) K_a ~ E R⁴ /L³

158 It is important to understand that K_a is generally more responsive to changes in geometry than to changes in the material(s) from which the support arm is formed.

159 Modal analysis is now performed to obtain the mode shapes and the frequencies of at least the first few modes. To that end, the natural frequencies f_n and the angular velocities ω_n of the overall support system are functions of support system parameters K and M where:

(3) f_n - ω_n - (KM)⁰⁵ in which:

K = stiffness of the overall support system or aπangement which in this case is mainly governed by the support arm stiffness K_a, and

M = mass of the digital storage plus at least a suspended portion of the mass of the support arms.

160 Typically, the first few modes are the low bending modes of the attachments, which allow rigid body translations and rigid body rotations of the Digital Storage Element. These natural frequencies are then compared with the shock frequencies, as follows.

161 Let β be a ratio between the shock and the natural frequencies:

(4) β = ω_i / ω_a = f, / f„ In which ιθj , f; are the input shock angular velocity and frequency, respectively, and ω_n , f_n are the natural angular velocity and frequency.

162 For the purpose of optimizing shock attenuation, a large value of β is desired which must be greater than one. It is generally desired that β>2, and, more preferably, β>4. It is noted that the output/input ratio of the displacement amplitudes and the output/input ratio of the acceleration amplitudes decrease as the value of β increases. The output/input ratio of the displacement amplitudes, however, decreases more slowly than the output/input ratio of the acceleration amplitudes.

163 A larger value of β results in coπespondingly smaller values of ω_n and f_n (or larger values for ϋ)j and f;, but generally these latter input parameters are defined and can not be changed in a given design). Therefore, a lower value for K_a is desired. As evidenced by equations 1 and 2 above, the most expedient ways to decrease K_a are by increasing the attachment length, decreasing its cross section, and/or manipulating the geometry configuration of the attachment. It should be appreciated that changing attachment length and/or any other aspect of geometric configuration may mandate some manipulation/change of the Digital Storage Element corner shape.

164 When the input shock frequency range is very large, difficulties may be introduced with regard to attenuating the lower portion of this shock frequency range. In such a situation, generally, the shock attenuation effort should be concentrated on the higher portion of the shock frequency range, at least for the reason that the amplitude of shock movement is generally higher than the amplitude of shock movement produced in the lower portion of the shock frequency range. In this regard, resilient bumpers may be used to facilitate mitigation of mechanical shock having components which will occur in the lower portion of the shock frequency range. Such bumpers may be integrated with the attachments, the cover arrangement, and/or the base aπangement of the digital storage, as will be described in further detail below. For the moment, it is worthwhile to mention that the use of bumpers reduces the allowable movement margin that is available between the host and the Digital Storage Element. For this reason, it is desirable to hold the projecting height of the bumpers to a minimum, especially in the instance where a relatively small movement margin is also desired.

165 In view of the foregoing descriptions, with sufficient iteration, an appropriate attachment stiffness K_a may be identified so as to attenuate most, if not all of a specified input shock frequency range. Having identified this attachment stiffness, a more detailed Finite Element model may then be formulated in order to accomplish still further analysis and design optimization.

166 Turning now to Figure 5, attention is now directed to specific details with regard to the construction of housing 12, initially shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5 illustrates a cover portion 60, which forms part of the housing, and is configured to be received on a base portion that is yet to be described. The cover portion of the housing is shown in one implementation that is formed using a sheet material such as, for example, stainless steel. Generally, cover portion 60 is formed by stamping, however, the present invention contemplates the use of any suitable material, accompanied by any suitable fabrication technique. For example, the cover portion may be machined. Cover portion 60 includes a plurality of beveled corner regions 62 each of which defines a comer region through-opening 64. A major side 66 of cover portion 60 defines a first plurality of bumper apertures 68 while a peripheral sidewall 70 extends generally transverse to major side 66 and is integral therewith to define a second plurality of bumper apertures 72. While a pair of apertures is shown, it should be appreciated that any suitable number and/or shape of such apertures may be used. For example, an elongated slot may be used. As will be further described, where a pair of apertures 72 is used, the bumper may be molded continuously between the apertures proximate to the exterior surface of the cover portion. It is noted for purposes of clarity that, in the view of Figure 5, peripheral sidewall 70 extends upwardly. Further, peripheral sidewall 70 defines a plurality of raised latching members 74, as will be further described at an appropriate point hereinafter.

167 Refeπing to Figure 6 in conjunction with Figure 5, previously mentioned resilient support arrangement 20 is supported within cover portion 60 in a highly advantageous way. Specifically, the resilient support arrangement is molded, in place, within the cover portion so as to form four functional subassemblies including: (i) a gasket portion 82; (ii) a support arm portion 84, including previously described support arms 22; (iii) a bumper portion 86 (only partially shown); and a recirculation filter holder. Descriptions of each of these subassemblies will be taken up immediately hereinafter.

168 Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, gasket portion 82 is molded into a peripheral corner region of the cover portion so as to suπound major side 66. Figures 1, 2, and 5 illustrate first plurality of bumper apertures 68 defined by major side 66. This first plurality of bumper apertures is positioned within the comer region of the peripheral cover portion such that the gasket portion is molded into and extends outwardly through these bumper apertures. In doing so, that portion of the resilient support arrangement which extends into and through the bumper apertures serves a dual purpose. First, the gasket portion is at least partially held in position within the cover portion. Second, a first plurality of bumpers 90 (see Figures 1 , 2 and 4) is formed so as to extend outwardly from major side 66 of cover portion 60. These bumpers are highly advantageous in extending completely about the periphery of major side 66. In this regard, it should be appreciated that, while these bumpers are highly useful in protecting Digital Storage Element 10 from mechanical shock that is incuπed, for example, as a result of dropping the Digital Storage Element in transit, these bumpers are specifically configured for protecting the Digital Storage Element from mechanical shock in situ. That is, first plurality of bumpers 90, like those yet to be described, are designed to provide an additional measure of protection for the Digital Storage Element when a mechanical shock is received by a host device so as to cause the Digital Storage Element to move in a way which would otherwise bring housing 12 into direct contact with the host device. As mentioned previously, since these bumpers extend outwardly from the Digital Storage Element, they themselves limit the available movement margin which is defined around the Digital Storage Element within the host device. Therefore, first plurality of bumpers 90. like other bumpers yet to be described, extend outwardly beyond the overall outline of the Digital Storage Element only slightly for purposes of maximizing the available movement margin that is present around the digital storage aπangement. In the present example, the height of the bumpers is contemplated as extending beyond the outline of the Digital Storage Element by approximately 0.5 mm.

169 Refeπing to Figures 5 through 7a. attention is now directed to further details with regard to the design of the resilient arrangement of the present invention including gasket portion 82 and bumper portion 86. It should be appreciated that these various subassemblies are described in a somewhat intermingled manner for the reason that all of the subassemblies are integrally formed. Further, certain portions of the resilient arrangement may functionally fall within more than one of the subassemblies. For example, referring to Figure 7a, resilient arrangement 20 includes a comer portion 100 which is shown in a partial, enlarged view of one co er of cover portion 60. Comer portion 100 extends integrally from gasket portion 82 into the corner region of the cover portion, proximate to and along a margin of peripheral sidewall 70. At the same time, corner portion 100 is molded through one of comer region through-openings 64 (see Figure 5) to form outwardly extending support arm 22, having its previously described configuration. This arrangement is considered as being highly advantageous since comer portion 100 is formed having a configuration and overall contact area with the comer region so as to provide a solid foundation for support arm 22. In providing a further advantage, a second plurality of sidewall bumpers 110, seen in Figure 6 and forming part of bumper portion 86, are molded from co er portion 100 through second plurality of bumper apertures 72, seen in Figure 5, to serve in a dual capacity. First, the second plurality of bumpers extends outwardly, beyond the outline of the Digital Storage Element, to functionally serve as bumpers while, second, the second plurality of bumpers further serves to anchor the corner portion so as to assist in providing a foundation for support arm 22. While sidewall bumpers are illustrated as being formed proximate to the corner region of cover portion 60 and integral with comer portion 100 of the resilient aπangement, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates the formation of sidewall bumpers around the entire periphery of the sidewall, which may readily be formed integrally with gasket portion 82.

170 Continuing with a description of the various subassemblies which form portions of resilient aπangement 20, reference is now taken to Figures 7a and 8. As illustrated in Figure 7a, comer portion 100 defines an upper surface 110 which further defines a paii of integrally molded bottom surface bumpers 112. Again, ii is to be understood that terms such as "bottom" are used for descriptive purposes within the context of the drawings and are in no way intended as being limiting. Figure 8 illustrates cover portion 60 assembled with a base portion 114 using a latching arrangement which will be described in further detail at an appropriate point below.

171 With the cover portion and base portion in the illustrated, assembled configuration, bottom surface bumpers 112 are arranged so as to extend outwardly, beyond the outline of the Digital Storage Element, as defined by the outer surface of base portion 114. Accordingly, resilient bumpers may be provided outwardly from every surface of Digital Storage Element 10, surrounding the outline of the Digital Storage Element such that, when the latter moves in any of six degrees of freedom relative to the host device by a sufficient amount, initial contact between the host device and the Digital Storage Element is made by one or more resilient bumpers. In this regard, it is noted that the resilient support arrangement of the present invention, including support arms 22, is designed for constraining the movement of the digital storage aπangement for anticipated mechanical shock forces having preselected magnitudes and frequencies over a specified range. In this way, the resilient support aπangement of the present invention may be tailored to a particular range of shock forces to which the Digital Storage Element is thought to be most susceptible. The value of the bumper system of the present invention, which suπounds the outline of the Digital Storage Element, resides primarily in protecting the Digital Storage Element from mechanical shock forces that are outside the most susceptible range of shock forces. Accordingly, protection from mechanical shock forces across an overall range is thought to be enhanced in a sweeping manner which has not been seen heretofore.

172 Turning to Figure 7b, a particular corner of cover portion 60 is shown in a partial, enlarged view, with previously described comer portion 100 of the resilient aπangement positioned therein. Additionally, however, this particular comer includes a recirculation filter support aπangement which is generally indicated by the reference number 115 and which extends inwardly and integrally from gasket portion 82 so as to form another portion of the resilient aπangement of the present invention. Recirculation filter support arrangement 115 includes a first end support 116 and a second end support 117 for supporting and capturing first and second ends of a recirculation filter 118, which is shown in phantom using dashed lines. With the recirculation filter in the illustrated position, attaching the cover portion to a base portion serves to capture the recirculation filter between major side 66 of the cover portion and the base portion, while its lateral position is maintained by end supports 116 and 117. Further, first end support 116 is offset from gasket portion 82 by a web 119. This web cooperates in a highly advantageous way with first end support 116, a sidewall 121 of gasket portion 82 and an attached base portion to define a filter passage 122 which routes air within the Digital Storage Element cavity through recirculation filter 118. The airflow is itself generated in a conventional manner as a byproduct of rotation of a rotating media within the Storage Element, yet to be described.

173 Referring to Figure 7c in conjunction with Figure 7b, attention is directed to further details relevant to the recirculation filter support arrangement. In particular, Figure 7c is a partial, further enlarged plan view showing recirculation filter 118 captured by the first and second support aπangements 118 and 120, respectively. The periphery of the recirculation filter, including its first and second ends 123 and 124, respectively, includes a V-shaped configuration, seen in Figure 7c. The V-shaped configuration serves in capturing the filter ends within V grooves defined by first and second end supports 116 and 117, respectively. Moreover, since the filter is generally formed from a somewhat resilient filtering material, its V-shaped periphery may additionally serve to seal its upper and lower edges against the base and cover portions, respectively, when the cover is installed on a base portion. The described recirculation filter support and passage defining aπangement is considered as being highly advantageous at least for reasons including multiple functionality as well as being integrally formed with the gasket portion. It is important to understand that the present invention contemplates the use of the gasket portion to provide other, integrally formed features for purposes such as, but not limited to holding items in position at any suitable point proximate to its periphery. Such holding features, for example, may be in the shape of a pillar pushing and/or pulling certain parts at desired distances from the cover portion.

174 Refeπing now to Figure 9, base portion 114 is shown including digital storage device 14. The latter is made up of a rotatable magnetic media 125, an actuator arm 126 for accessing the rotatable magnetic media and a voice coil motor assembly 128 for selectively moving the actuator arm. An intermediate support assembly 130 includes an intermediate support and a flexible circuit along with a ramp 132 for receiving the actuator arm in a parked position, as is described in copending U.S. patent application serial number 09/952,998 entitled DIGITAL DEVICE CONFIGURATION AND METHOD, filed on September 14, 2001 which is commonly assigned with the present application and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. A base plate 140 serves in supporting the aforedescribed components. The base plate further defines a plurality of latching recesses 142 (only four of which are visible) that are engaged by previously described latching members 74 (see, for example, Figure 5) for the purpose of attaching cover portion 60 to base portion. It is noted that this configuration is considered as being highly advantageous at least for the reason that threaded fasteners are not employed. The latter are notoriously known as producing contaminants during threaded engagement. In this regard, it should be appreciated that base portion 114 should be positioned within cover portion 60 by expanding peripheral sidewall 70 of the cover portion temporarily outward in a suitable manner such that the base portion may be positioned within the cover portion without slidingly engaging latching members 74 against base portion 114. Having properly positioned the cover portion and base portion relative to one another, the cover portion is then released such that latching members 74 are moved into latching recesses 142. In this way, contamination produced by rubbing the latching members against sidewalls of the base portion is substantially avoided. Specific details with regard to the seal that is achieved using gasket portion 82 of resilient arrangement 20 captured between the base portion and the cover portion will be described immediately hereinafter. At this juncture, it is appropriate to note that the Digital Storage Element incorporates a breather filter (not shown) such that atmospheric gasses, under anticipated conditions, pass only through the breather filter for purposes of equalizing changes in ambient pressure and for sealing airborne contaminants out of the enclosure.

175 Referring to Figure 10 in conjunction with Figures 7a and 9, a partial diagrammatic cross-sectional view is shown taken through the comer region of cover portion 60. In this view, cover portion 60 is shown along with one of latching members 74. Gasket portion 82 is further illustrated, aπanged in the peripheral co er region of the cover portion and including a peripheral, upstanding resilient sealing lip or collar 150 which is angled toward peripheral sidewall 70 for purposes of engaging a peripheral sealing rim 152 (see Figure 9) that is defined by base portion 114, as will be seen. Gasket portion 82 further includes a resilient biasing cone 154. At least two of these resilient biasing cones are formed spaced apart on each edge of gasket portion 82. Further details with regard to sealing lip 150 and resilient biasing cones 154 will be provided immediately hereinafter.

176 Turning to Figure 11 , cover portion 60 is shown in the same cross-sectional view as that of Figure 10, but including base portion 114 (only partially shown) installed within the cover portion such that peripheral sealing rim 152 engages peripheral sealing lip 150 of the gasket portion. With this engagement, angled peripheral sealing lip 150 moves against the peripheral sealing rim and applies a self-biasing resilient force thereto as a result of the angled configuration of peripheral sealing lip 150. Contact between the peripheral sealing rim and the peripheral sealing lip serves in a highly advantageous way to seal the inner cavity of Digital Storage Element 10, which contains storage device 14. As briefly described above, it is preferable to initially position base portion 114 within cover portion 60 by first moving or temporarily biasing peripheral sidewall 70 outward, in the direction indicated by an arrow 160. The cover portion is then placed into position and the peripheral sidewall is released so that latching members 74 engage latching recesses 142. One latching member is shown, by Figure 11, in an engaged position within a latching recess. It should be appreciated that a seal is achieved between an inner sidewall 162 of rim 152 and peripheral sealing lip 150 before the base portion is fully received into the cover portion and thereafter maintained within a predetermined vertical (in the view of the figure) movement range of the cover portion, such that the inner cavity of the Digital Storage Element is fully sealed once latching recesses 142 and latching member 74 achieve an aligned position and are, thereafter, released. Therefore, any contamination generated by contact between the latching member engaging its opposing latching recess is produced after sealing the cover portion and base portion to one another. In and by itself, this configuration is considered to be highly advantageous. As will be further described, the seal is advantageously maintained even when the cover portion compresses the biasing cones by an amount that is greater than required for purposes of releasing the latching members. Moreover, the seal is maintained even with lateral, relative movement between the cover portion and base portion. This lateral movement is facilitated by sway spaces 163 between peripheral sidewall 70 and peripheral sealing rim 152 and between latching member 74 and base portion 114.

177 Still refeπing to Figure 11 , attention is now directed to specific details concerning resilient biasing cones 154, which are distributed about the peripheral gasket portion, and one of which is shown in Figure 11. As cover portion 60 and base portion 114 are brought into the engaged position, a lower surface 156 of peripheral sealing rim 152 contacts resilient biasing cone 154, which is integrally formed with gasket portion 82. Each resilient biasing cone 154 includes a configuration which cooperates collectively with the remaining biasing cones to bias cover portion 114 upward, in the view of the figure, so as to maintain contact between latching member 74 and the cover portion at a contact point 164 under static conditions. The use of resilient biasing cones is highly advantageous for the purpose of maintaining a predetermined outward bias force against lower surface 156 of peripheral sealing rim 152 in a direction that is indicated by an aπow 166. Such controlled force provides the ability to relatively precisely control the amount of bias force that is applied. In this regard, if lower surface 156 of peripheral sealing rim 152 is, at once, brought into contact with the overall periphery of gasket portion 82, thereby capturing the gasket portion, other than peripheral sealing collar 150, between the base and cover portions, the gasket portion will present a relatively high stiffness. The latter may be problematic with regard to providing the ability to move the base portion sufficiently into the cover portion in order to permit engagement of latching members 74 with latching recess 142 in a desired manner, as will be further described. By using resilient biasing cones 154 of the present invention, a stepped stiffness aπangement is produced whereby, during an initial contact step, a controlled initial stiffness is presented as lower surface 156 contacts and compresses resilient cones 154. If movement of the base portion continues, a subsequent stiffness step is encountered in which dramatically higher force is required to continue movement of peripheral sealing rim 152 into gasket portion 82. The use of the resilient biasing cones provides for latching of the cover and base portions in a highly desirable fashion, as will be described in detail immediately hereinafter.

178 Refemng to Figure 12 in conjunction with Figure 13 and continuing with a description of the stepped bias configuration used in resiliently biasing cover portion 60 and base portion 114 away from one another, during the process of attaching the base and cover portions, it is desirable to move base portion 114 downward in a direction indicated by an aπow 168, as shown in Figure 12, to compress biasing cone 154 by an amount which allows each latching member 74 to move into its associated latching recess 142 without contacting base portion 114. Contact is then allowed to occur by releasing base portion 114 so as to permit it to move upward, as shown in Figure 11, to contact latching member 74 at contact point 164. Thus, potential contamination-producing rubbing is avoided between latching member 74 and base portion 114 at contact surface 174. In order to facilitate this desired engagement process, resilient cones 154 are configured such that the base portion and cover portion may be attached to one another using only the initial, controlled stiffness afforded by the resilient biasing cones. That is, the aforedescribed subsequent stepped stiffness step, presented by lower surface 156 of sealing rim 152 engaging the entire periphery of gasket portion, is not entered. This arrangement is considered as highly advantageous for a number of reasons including that of providing a relatively low, consistent value of biasing force during the mating of the cover and base portions. It should be appreciated that throughout the process of vertical movement required for installation of the cover portion onto the base portion, the aforementioned vertical movement range maintains a seal between the cover and base portions. As will be described immediately below, such provisions for movement of the base portion relative to the cover portion are also highly advantageous with regard to mitigating the effects of mechanical shock, particularly in view of the manner in which the Digital Storage Element is supported. Another highly advantageous implementation of the latching member of the present invention will be described at an appropriate point below, which still further enhances mechanical shock mitigation.

179 Referring initially to Figures 8 through 12, attention is now directed to a highly advantageous aspect of the structure described above which still further enhances protection of digital storage arrangement 14 (see Figure 9) from the effects of mechanical shock received by the Digital Storage Element of the present invention. In one aspect of this advantage, alluded to above, base portion 114 is resiliently supported in a way which allows it to "float" or move relative to cover portion 60. In this regard, it is important to understand that digital storage aπangement 14 is supported by base portion 114 which is, in turn, supported by cover portion 60. The aforedescribed resilient support aπangement (see, for example, Figure 8) extends between the cover portion and the host device. In this way, digital storage arrangement 14 is protected by at least two separate levels of mechanical shock isolation. Specifically, the resilient support aπangement extends between the host device and the Digital Storage Element to provide a first level of isolation, while the base portion, floating within the cover portion of the Digital Storage Element, serves to provide a second level of isolation. A number of aspects of the described structure contribute to this advantage, each of which will be taken up in subsequent discussions. Moreover, a damping configuration is provided which further serves to cushion and/or limit movement of the base portion relative to the cover portion when such movement does occur.

180 Refeπing to Figures 11 and 12, it should be appreciated that movement of base portion 114 relative to cover portion 60 is facilitated, in part, by peripheral sealing collar 150. The latter, in the view of Figure 11, provides for vertical, as well as lateral relative motion of the base portion within a predetermined range while still maintaining a seal between the cover portion and the base portion. At the same time, vertical and lateral relative motion is permitted by the configuration of biasing cones 154 cooperating with latching members 74. The latter may move laterally and vertically within latching recesses 142. Compression of biasing cones 154 and, in the instance of higher levels of mechanical shock, subsequent compression of the overall periphery of gasket portion 82 (see, for example, figure 7) provides for vertical as well as lateral relative motion.

181 With regard to the specific configuration illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, it is to be understood that any suitable modification is contemplated and considered as being within the scope of the appended claims so long as the teachings herein are applied. For example, resilient biasing cones 154 may be replaced by biasing pedestals having any number of alternative forms in order to provide the contemplated stepped biasing aπangement. That is, a conical shape is not required and any suitable number of biasing pedestals may be provided about the peπphery of gasket portion 82 Moreover, the illustrated configuration of cover portion 60 cooperating with peripheral sealing lip 150 of the gasket portion may be modified m any suitable manner so long as a seal is achieved between the cover portion and the base portion Likewise, the configuration of latching recesses 142 may be modified in any suitable manner

182 Turning to Figures 7a through 9, corner portions 100, which form a portion of the resilient aπangement, are positioned between the comers of base portion 114 and cover portion 60 when the cover portion is selectively attached to the base portion At the same time, a sway space 180 (see Figure 8) is provided between each co er portion and the confronting comer of the base portion With sufficient movement of the base portion inside the cover portion, the base portion comer moves through this sway space and engages co er portion 100 of the resilient aπangement Accordingly, the co er portion serves m a highly advantageous way to cushion and dampen the relative movement, thereby mitigating the effects of mechanical shock on digital storage aπangement 14 supported by base portion 114

183 Refemng to Figure 13, attention is now directed to an alternative embodiment of the shock mount of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference number 22' and illustrated diagrammatically Since design considerations as well as functional aspects of shock mount 22' are essentially identical to those of previously described shock mount 22, shown m Figure 4, the reader is refeπed to those shock mount descnptions which appear above Descriptions of shock mount 22' will be limited, for the most part, to differences between the two embodiments It is worthwhile to emphasize, however, that shock mount 22' may readily be formed as an integral portion of an overall resilient aπangement Like shock mount 22, shock mount 22' may be molded through a corner region through-opening such as is shown in Figure 5, as indicated therein by the reference number 64 In addition to its previously descnbed features, shock mount 22' further includes a pair of elongated bumpers 180 that are aπanged proximate to a side margin of penpheral sidewall 70, positioned outward of beam portion 38 Each bumper 180 defines an elongation axis 182 that is generally normal to a plane which contains major surface 44a Moreover, each bumper 180 extends outward with respect to planes coincident with the upper and lower major surfaces of Digital Storage Element 10 That is, outside the overall outline of the Digital Storage Element While support cylinder 40 at the distal end of the shock mount is fixedly captured by the host device (see Figures 3 and 4), bumpers 180 are configured to move with Storage Element 10 and relative to the host device when a mechanical shock force is received by the host device When the Digital Storage Element expenences movement having a component onented along elongation axes 182 having a sufficient magnitude, bumpers 180 are configured for contacting the host device prior to any other contact occurπng directly between the host device and Digital Storage Element 10 Benefits deπved from such an arrangement have been described above with regard to an anticipated range of shock forces and frequency The columnar configuration of bumpers 180 is shown here for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting Accordingly, any configuration serving bumper functionality may be provided proximate to penpheral sidewall 70 as part of the shock mount of the present invention.

184 Attention is now directed to Figures 14 through 16 for the purpose of describing a number of alternative, but highly advantageous features which may be incorporated in cover portion 60 Figure 14 is an outside, perspective view of one co er of the cover portion, while Figure 15 is an mside, perspective view of the comer of the cover portion Figure 16 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through the cover portion along a line 16-16 which is indicated in Figure 14 and will be further described. The present discussion will be limited to items which differ from those described above, for purposes of brevity.

185 Referring to Figures 14 and 16, the illustrated embodiment of cover portion 60 is formed having a beveled peripheral co er 200 defining a surface, which may be flat, between a pair of opposing 45 degree bends 202 (best seen in figure 16). A plurality of through-openings 204 (one of which is shown in Figure 16) are defined within the flat surface between bends 202 and about the entire periphery of the cover portion. Resilient arrangement 20 is then molded so as to extend from gasket portion 82, within the cover portion, outwardly from through-openings 204 to a peripheral, integrally formed co er bumper 206. Any suitable number of through-openings 204 may be formed along each side of the cover portion depending, for example, on support provided for comer bumper 206. It is noted that resilient cone 154, as well as peripheral sealing collar 150 are also visible in Figure 16. Of course, the illustrated configuration of peripheral corner bumper 206 is not intended as being limiting, but may be modified in any suitable manner. For example, in one alternative embodiment, the peripheral comer bumper may include a configuration that is defined generally by (or within) a dashed line 208, in Figure 16, such that the peripheral comer bumper is defined as being at least generally within the outline of cover portion 60 as viewed prior to the addition of beveled comer 200. That is, the outline of the comer bumper is at or within a corner region as defined by extension of the planes of the peripheral sidewall and the major side or panel of the cover portion. Accordingly, this configuration is advantageous in preserving the movement margin, which suπounds the Digital Storage Element of the present invention, while still providing protection against direct contact between the host device and the cover portion in the event that a mechanical shock received by the host device causes the cover portion to move completely through the movement margin. It should be appreciated that corner bumper 206 may extend continuously about the periphery of the comer portion. Alternatively, corner bumper 206 may be formed as any number of individual bumpers about the periphery of the cover portion using appropriate arrangements and numbers of through-openings 204.

186 Still referring to Figures 14 through 16, attention is now directed to a highly advantageous latching arm 220, which was briefly mentioned above. In the present example, latching arms 220 are formed in the peripheral sidewall of cover portion 60 by stamping, however any suitable method may be used. Each latching arm 220 includes a cantilevered, resilient body 222 (see Figure 15) which extends to a distal end 224 that is also visible in Figure 16. A notch 226 is formed immediately ahead of distal end 224 of each latching arm. Attaching this embodiment of the cover portion to a base portion may be accomplished by using an appropriate assembly tool to reach into each notch 226 so as to engage distal end 224 of each latching arm. The distal ends are then simultaneously pulled outward during placement of the cover portion onto a base portion 114 (see Figure 9). Latching arms 220 may then be released to move into position within the latching recesses, as previously described with regard to latching members 74, in a manner which avoids rubbing the latching arms against the cover portion in a contamination-producing manner. With brief reference to Figure 12, it is noted that the released distal end of the latching arm may occupy a region extending from a dashed line 230 and innermost edge 232 of previously described latching member 74, upon release of the latching arm into the latching recess. It is to be understood that, while illustrated as being straight and rectangular in cross-section, distal end 224 of the latching arms may include any suitable configuration such as, for example, a curved hook-like shape or an angled shape. 187 The use of latching arms 220 is considered as highly advantageous with regard to the aforedescribed second level of mechanical shock isolation, wherein the base portion floats within the cover portion, since the cantilevered latching arms themselves add a further degree of resilience in the attachment of base portion 114 to cover portion 60. Stated in a slightly different manner, a shock force received by the host device upon reaching cover portion 60 and being attenuated by the resilient support arrangement of the present invention, must then pass through a further level of resilient support in the form of latching arms 220, prior to reaching the base portion. It should be appreciated that any suitable number of latching arms may be used for purposes of attaching the cover portion to the base portion. While the present example uses a pair of latching arms formed in each peripheral sidewall of the cover portion, this is not a requirement.

188 Having generally described the configuration of latching arms 220, it should be appreciated that design considerations described above with regard to resilient support arms 22 are also applicable with regard to the configuration of the latching arms. The geometry of the latching arms including their length and width are adjustable in view of the thickness of the peripheral sidewall of the base portion in order to provide appropriate shock response.

189 With reference to Figures 14 and 15, the latter illustrates an alternative comer portion 100' which shown positioned within peripheral sidewall 70 having an arcuate shaped inner surface 230. It is noted that the presence of peripheral co er bumper 206 obviates the need for sidewall bumpers 110, the absence of which is seen by comparison of Figures

190 At this juncture, it is worthwhile to again briefly consider the aforedescribed prior art. With regard to the use of rubber grommets for the purpose of mechanical shock mitigation, it is submitted that the resilient support arm aπangement of the present invention avoids the complex multi-mode response interaction that is presented by rubber grommets. From an analytical standpoint, therefore, the present invention facilitates the implementation of a precision control shock isolation aπangement through the described design approach. That is, the resilient support arm aπangement of the present invention responds in a significantly more predictable manner, such that response characteristics are readily modified by making geometric and/or material property changes. With regard to the '440 patent, it is submitted that a predictable, designed mechanical shock isolation response is essentially unachievable in view of a given shock force to be received by a host device or with regard to implementing an overall, designed response within an overall mechanical shock force magnitude and frequency range. The present invention, in contrast, provides such capabilities while, at the same time, requiring a receiving cavity defining a relatively small movement margin suπounding the Digital Storage Element. The '440 patent illustrates a relatively enormous movement margin, disadvantageously comprising a significant portion of the external hard drive case in which the hard drive is positioned.

191 Since the Digital Storage Element and resilient aπangement along with the associated method disclosed herein may be provided in a variety of different configurations and the method may be practiced in a variety of different ways, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present examples and methods are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. 192 Briefly, this writing has disclosed a digital storage arrangement is interfaceable with a host device which defines a cavity. The digital storage arrangement includes a housing receivable in the cavity, with a movement margin between the housing and host device, while a resilient support aπangement is provided for fixed engagement with the host device and for engaging the housing, while extending through the movement margin, to support the housing within the storage device cavity and to subject the storage device to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives a given mechanical shock. The resilient support arrangement provides support by extending from each corner region of the housing to the host device. The support aπangement is molded through an opening defined by the housing in each comer region to extend outwardly to the host device. A bumper configuration is provided integral with the support aπangement and including a sealing aπangement.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A digital storage arrangement electrically interfaceable with a host device, said host device defining a storage device cavity, said digital storage aπangement comprising: a housing receivable in the storage device cavity in a way which provides a movement margin between the housing and the host device; digital storage means susceptible to a given mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent, located within said housing; a flexible electrical interconnection aπangement for providing electrical communication between the digital storage means and the host device across said movement margin; and a resilient support aπangement for fixed engagement with said host device and engaging said housing while extending through said movement margin to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives said given mechanical shock.

2. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes a resilient material extending through said movement margin.

3. The digital storage aπangement of Claim 2 wherein said resilient material is a low modulus material.

4. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said digital storage means is electromechanical.

5. The digital storage arrangement of claim 4 wherein said digital storage means includes a rotatable media and a head aπangement configured at least for reading the rotatable media.

6. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a peripheral sidewall extending between said opposing major sides and wherein said resilient support aπangement extends from said peripheral sidewall.

7. The digital storage arrangement of claim 6 wherein said peripheral sidewall defines a plurality of comer regions and wherein said resilient support arrangement provides support by extending from each comer region to the host device.

8. The digital storage aπangement of claim 7 wherein said peripheral sidewall at each co er region defines a through-opening and said resilient support aπangement includes at least one portion within the peripheral sidewall and another portion which extends outwardly therefrom through each through opening to the host device.

9. The digital storage arrangement of claim 8 wherein said portion of the resilient support aπangement within the peripheral sidewall extends therefrom to fonn a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device with movement of the housing relative to the host device.

10. The digital storage arrangement of claim 9 wherein said bumper configuration defines at least one bumper which extends outwardly with respect to a plane that is at least generally coincident with one of said major sides for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

11. The digital storage arrangement of claim 9 wherein said bumper configuration defines at least one bumper which extends outwardly through said peripheral sidewall for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

12. The digital storage arrangement of claim 8 wherein said portion of the resilient support arrangement within the peripheral sidewall extends therefrom to form a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to mechanical shock induced direct contact between the housing and the host device when the housing moves having a sufficient component of movement normal to said opposing major sides.

13. The digital storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein said generally opposing major sides define a thickness therebetween and are at least approximately contained within a pair of parallel planes and said bumper configuration includes a length generally normal to said parallel planes and greater than said thickness so as to project outwardly beyond each of the parallel planes.

14. The digital storage arrangement of claim 8 including a recirculation filter for filtering air within said housing and wherein said resilient support arrangement proximate to one of said comer regions includes a filter configuration for at least partially supporting said recirculation filter.

15. The digital storage arrangement of claim 14 wherein the filter configuration further defines, at least partially, a filter passage for directing air through the recirculation filter.

16. The digital storage aπangement of claim I wherein said housing includes a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a peripheral sidewall extending between said opposing major sides and wherein said resilient support aπangement extends from said peripheral sidewall including at least one resilient support arm extending between the peripheral sidewall and the host device such that movement of the digital storage arrangement relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on said resilient support arm.

17. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a peripheral sidewall extending between said opposing major sides and said peripheral sidewall defines a plurality of comer regions and said resilient support aπangement supports the corner regions using a plurality of support members, one of which support members extends between each comer region and the host device such that the housing is supported, in the absence of said mechanical shock, having each of said support members under stress.

18. The digital storage arrangement of claim 17 wherein said support members are arranged such that movement of the digital storage arrangement relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on said support members in a way which attenuates the movement.

19. The digital storage arrangement of claim 17 wherein said support members and said movement margin are cooperatively configured for permitting mechanically induced movement of the housing relative to the host device in six degrees of freedom to provide a controlled response for each one of the six degrees of freedom.

20. The digital storage arrangement of claim 19 wherein said support members are cooperatively configured for constraining movement of the housing in so as to avoid contact with the host device for the given force.

21. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing is aπanged in said storage device cavity such that the movement margin serves, at least in part, to limit a thermal transfer rate between the host device and the housing.

22. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing and having a distal end configuration defining a pair of opposing contact points for supportingly engaging said host device.

23. The digital storage arrangement of claim 22 wherein said distal end configuration is configured for capture by the host device in a way which biases the pair of opposing contact points towards one another.

24. The digital storage arrangement of claim 23 wherein said distal end configuration includes a support column having a pair of opposing ends, each of which defines one of said contact points.

25. The digital storage arrangement of claim 24 wherein said housing defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and said support column defines an elongation axis that is at least generally normal to the opposing major sides prior to capture of the support column by the host device.

26. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing and having a distal end configuration for supportingly engaging said host device and said resilient arm includes a bumper configuration proximate to said housing that is configured to move with the housing and relative to the host device such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device when the housing moves having a sufficient component of movement along a selected direction.

27. The digital storage arrangement of claim 26 wherein said housing defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and said bumper configuration is configured to come into contact with the host device when the sufficient component of movement is normal to said opposing major sides.

28. The digital storage arrangement of claim 26 wherein said housing includes a housing outline which defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides having a thickness therebetween and which are at least approximately contained within a pair of parallel planes and said bumper configuration includes a length generally normal to said parallel planes and greater than said thickness so as to project outwardly beyond each of the parallel planes. 29 The digital storage arrangement of claim 28 wherein said bumper configuration includes a pair of bumper columns aπanged along a side margin of said support arm and defining said length normal to the opposing planes

30 The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a base portion and a cover portion that are attachable with one another using a latching aπangement that forms part of the cover portion and part of the base portion

31 The digital storage arrangement of claim 30 wherein said cover portion includes a plurality of latching arms that are moveable at least from an unlatched position to a latched position, as one part of said latching aπangement, and said base portion defines a plurality of latching recesses, as another part of said latching aπangement, such that the latching arms in said unlatched position are ahgnable with the latching recesses upon placing the cover portion on the base portion and said latching arms are then moveable to the latched position to attach the cover portion onto the base portion

32 The digital storage arrangement of claim 31 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet mateπal and said latching arms are stamped as an integral portion of said sheet mateπal

33 The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a base portion and a cover portion that are attachable with one another and said resilient support aπangement is an integrally foimed portion of a resilient arrangement further including a gasket portion that is integrally formed therewith to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means with the housing

34 The digital storage arrangement of claim 33 wherein said gasket portion is fixedly positioned in one of the base portion and the cover portion and said gasket portion includes a sealing configuration for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion and said gasket portion further defines a biasing configuration, separate from said sealing configuration, for resiliently biasing attached ones of the cover and base portion away from one another

35 The digital storage arrangement of claim 34 wherein said gasket portion is molded into position m said cover portion

36 The digital storage arrangement of claim 34 wherein said gasket portion is attached to the cover portion and said biasing configuration includes a plurality of biasing pedestals which contact the base portion to resiliently bias the base and cover portions away from one another in a controlled way

37 The digital storage aπangement of claim 33 wherein said cover portion includes a first major side and said gasket portion is attached at least partially to an inner surface of said first major side

38 The digital storage arrangement of claim 37 wherein said cover portion includes a penpheral sidewall extending outwardly from said first major side and said gasket portion is attached at least partially to an inner area of said peripheral sidewall

39. The digital storage aπangement of claim 33 wherein said cover portion includes a first panel defining a first major area and having a periphery and further includes a sidewall extending transversely from said periphery in a way which cooperates with the first panel to define a peripheral comer region and said gasket portion is fixedly disposed, at least in part, in said comer region.

40. The digital storage arrangement of claim 39 wherein said gasket portion is molded into the peripheral comer region.

41. The digital storage aπangement of claim 39 wherein said base portion includes a peripheral sealing rim that is configured to engage the gasket portion to seal the digital storage means within said housing.

42. The digital storage arrangement of claim 33 wherein said cover portion defines a plurality of through-holes into which said resilient aπangement is molded to serve, at least in part, to positionally retain the gasket portion and the resilient support aπangement.

43. The digital storage aπangement of claim 42 wherein said cover portion includes a first panel defining a major surface of the cover portion and which defines said through-holes.

44. The digital storage aπangement of claim 42 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material which defines said through-holes and which includes an outer surface and said resilient arrangement extends through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper outward of each through-hole as one of a plurality of resilient bumpers.

45. The digital storage aπangement of claim 44 wherein said cover portion includes a major panel and a peripheral sidewall attached at a periphery of the major panel and wherein at least one group of said plurality of resilient bumpers is formed to extend outwardly from said major panel.

46. The digital storage arrangement of claim 45 wherein at least another group of said plurality of resilient bumpers extends outwardly from said peripheral sidewall.

47. The digital storage aπangement of claim 44 wherein said plurality of resilient bumpers forms a bumper configuration for initially contacting the host device at a periphery of the movement margin.

48. The digital storage arrangement of claim 42 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material which defines said through-holes and which includes an outer surface and said resilient arrangement extends through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper which extends continuously between at least two of said through-holes.

49. The digital storage aπangement of claim 48 wherein said cover portion includes a periphery and said resilient bumper extends continuously about the periphery of the cover portion.

50. The digital storage arrangement of claim 48 wherein said cover portion includes a peripheral comer region and said resilient bumper extends continuously about the peripheral comer region.

51. The digital storage arrangement of claim 50 wherein said peripheral co er region includes a beveled surface formed between a major side of the cover portion and a suπounding, peripheral sidewall, and said resilient bumper is formed on said beveled surface and within a cover outline that is defined by extension of the peripheral sidewall and the major side in said peripheral comer region.

52. The digital storage arrangement of claim 1 wherein said digital storage means may be subjected to a given vibration through the host device and wherein said resilient support aπangement is configured for damping the given vibration.

53. A digital storage arrangement that is interfaceable with a host device, said digital storage arrangement comprising: a housing including a cover portion and a base portion selectively attachable with one another, at least said cover portion being formed from a sheet material which defines a plurality of through-holes and which includes an outer surface; digital storage means for location within said housing; a resilient aπangement including a gasket portion that is integrally formed therewith to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing and said resilient arrangement extends through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper outward of each through-hole so as to provide a plurality of resilient bumpers; a flexible electrical interface aπangement for providing electrical communication between the storage device and the digital storage means through said housing; and a support aπangement for supporting the housing within said host device.

54. In the manufacture of a digital storage aπangement that is interfaceable with a host device, a method comprising the steps of: forming a housing including a cover portion and a base portion selectively attachable with one another, at least said cover portion being formed from a sheet material which defines a plurality of through-holes and which includes an outer surface; positioning digital storage means within said housing; molding a resilient aπangement including a gasket portion to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing and integrally molding, as part of the resilient arrangement, a plurality of resilient bumpers, one of which is provided for extending through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form one resilient bumper outward of each through-hole; providing a flexible electrical interface arrangement for establishing electrical communication between the storage device and the digital storage means; and supporting the housing within said host device.

55. A digital storage aπangement that is interfaceable with a host device, said digital storage aπangement comprising: a housing including a cover portion and a base portion that are attachable with one another using a latching aπangement forming part of the cover portion and part of the base portion; digital storage means for location within said housing; a sealing arrangement for sealing the digital storage means within the housing between attached ones of the base portion and cover portion; a flexible electrical interface arrangement for providing electrical communication between the storage device and the digital storage means through said housing; and a support aπangement for supporting the housing within said host device.

56. The digital storage arrangement of claim 55 wherein said cover portion includes a plurality of latching arms that are moveable between an unlatched position and a latched position, as one part of said latching arrangement, and said base portion defines a plurality of latching recesses, as another part of said latching arrangement, such that the latching arms in said unlatched position are alignable with the latching recesses upon placing the cover portion on the base portion and are then moveable to the latched position to secure the cover portion onto the base portion.

57. The digital storage aπangement of claim 56 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material and said latching arms are stamped as an integral portion of said sheet material.

58. In producing a digital storage arrangement that is interfaceable with a host device, a method comprising the steps of: arranging a housing to include a cover portion, a base portion and a latching arrangement forming part of the cover portion and part of the base portion for attaching the cover portion to the base portion using the latching arrangement; providing digital storage means for location within said housing; sealing the digital storage means within the housing between attached ones of the base portion and cover portion using a sealing arrangement; connecting a flexible electrical interface aπangement between the digital storage means and the digital storage arrangement for providing electrical communication therebetween; and supporting the housing within said host device.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of aπanging said housing includes the steps of forming a plurality of latching arms that are moveable between an unlatched position and a latched position, as one part of said latching arrangement, and defining a plurality of latching recesses in said base portion, as another part of said latching arrangement, such that the latching arms in said unlatched position are alignable with the latching recesses upon placing the cover portion on the base portion and are then moveable to the latched position to secure the cover portion onto the base portion.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material and the step of forming said latching arms includes the step of stamping the latching arms as an integral portion of said sheet material.

61. A resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement including digital storage means that is electrically interfaceable with a host device and that is susceptible to a given mechanical shock, said digital storage aπangement including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion that are selectively attachable with one another, said host device defining a storage device cavity, said resilient aπangement comprising: a gasket portion that is integrally formed to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the bousing: and a support portion that is integrally formed and which extends outwardly from said housing and is configured for engagement with said host device to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives said given mechanical shock.

62. The resilient arrangement of claim 61 wherein said housing defines an outer surface and said resilient aπangement includes a bumper portion that is integrally formed and that extends outwardly at least from one portion of said outer surface to form a plurality of resilient bumpers.

63. A method for producing a resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement including digital storage means that is electrically interfaceable with a host device and that is susceptible to a given mechanical shock, said digital storage aπangement including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion that are selectively attachable with one another, said host device defining a storage device cavity, said method comprising the steps of: integrally forming said resilient arrangement to include (i) a gasket portion for sealing attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing and (ii) a support portion for extending outwardly from said housing configured for engagement with said host device to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives said given mechanical shock.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said housing defines an outer surface and said integral forming step includes the step of further forming a bumper portion for extending outwardly at least from one portion of said outer surface to form a plurality of resilient bumpers.

65. A resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement including digital storage means, said digital storage aπangement including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion, each having outer surfaces, such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another, said resilient aπangement comprising: a gasket portion to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing; and a bumper portion that that is integrally formed along with the gasket portion and that extends outwardly beyond at least one of said outer surfaces to form at least one resilient bumper.

66. A method for producing a resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement including digital storage means, said digital storage arrangement including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion, each having outer surfaces, such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gasket portion to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing; and integrally forming a bumper portion along with the gasket portion for extending outwardly beyond at least one of said outer surfaces to form a plurality of resilient bumpers.

67. A resilient arrangement for use in a digital storage arrangement which itself includes digital storage means, said digital storage aπangement further including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another, said resilient arrangement comprising: a sealing portion received in one of the base portion and the cover portion and configured for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion to seal the digital storage means within the housing; and a biasing portion, separate from said sealing portion, but formed integrally therewith for resiliently biasing engaged ones of the cover and base portion away from one another.

68. The resilient aπangement of claim 67 wherein said biasing portion includes a plurality of biasing pedestals which contact the cover portion to resiliently bias engaged ones of the base and cover portions away from one another in a controlled way.

69. The resilient aπangement of claim 68 wherein said biasing pedestals include a conical configuration.

70. A method for using a resilient arrangement in a digital storage arrangement which itself includes digital storage means, said digital storage aπangement further including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion such that the base and cover portions are selectively attachable with one another, said method comprising the steps of: positioning a sealing portion of the resilient aπangement in one of the base portion and the cover portion which sealing portion is configured for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion to seal the digital storage means within the housing; and using a biasing portion of the resilient arrangement that is separate from said sealing portion, but formed integrally therewith, to resiliently bias engaged ones of the cover portion and base portion away from one another.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the step of using the biasing portion includes the step of resiliently biasing engaged ones of the base and cover portions away from one another in a controlled way using a plurality of biasing pedestals, forming part of the biasing portion, which deformably contact the cover portion.

72. The method of claim 71 including the step of forming said biasing pedestals to include a conical configuration.

73. A method for producing an electronic assembly, said method comprising the steps of: providing a digital storage aπangement including a housing having a housing outline and digital storage means, susceptible to a given mechanical shock at least to a limited extent, supported within said housing; providing a host device defining a storage device cavity for receiving the digital storage aπangement; forming a resilient support aπangement to extend from said housing and for fixedly engaging said host device so as to extend therebetween to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage aπangement to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives said given mechanical shock; and electrically interfacing the host device to said digital storage aπangement using a flexible electrical interface aπangement to provide electrical communication between the digital storage arrangement and the host device.

74. The method of Claim 73 wherein a low modulus material is used to form said resilient support arrangement.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein said forming step forms said resilient support arrangement using a resilient material having a mechanical shock attenuation property.

76. The method of claim 73 including the step of configuring the housing to include a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a peripheral sidewall extending between said pair of opposing major sides and said forming step includes the step of extending the resilient support aπangement from said peripheral sidewall.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein said digital storage aπangement includes a recirculation filter for filtering air within said housing and said method includes the step of configuring the resilient support arrangement proximate to one of said corner regions to include a filter configuration for at least partially supporting said recirculation filter.

78. The method of claim 77 including the step of forming the filter configuration to define, at least in part, a filter passage for directing air through the recirculation filter.

79. The method of claim 76 wherein said peripheral sidewall defines a plurality of comer regions and wherein said forming step includes the step of fixing said resilient support aπangement at each comer region.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein said peripheral sidewall at each comer region is configured to define a through opening and the fixing step includes the step of injection molding the resilient support arrangement into the through opening of each comer region such that one portion of the resilient support arrangement is within the peripheral sidewall and another portion of the resilient support arrangement extends outwardly therefrom for connection to the host device.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein said portion of the resilient support arrangement within the peripheral sidewall extends therefrom to form a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device with movement of the housing relative to the host device.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein said bumper configuration is formed to define at least one bumper which extends outwardly with respect to a plane that is at least generally coincident with one of said major sides for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein said bumper configuration is formed to define at least one bumper which extends outwardly through said peripheral sidewall for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

84. The method of claim 80 wherein said portion of the resilient support arrangement within the peripheral sidewall is formed to extend therefrom in a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device pnor to direct contact between the housing and the host device when the housing moves having a sufficient component of movement normal to said opposing major sides

85 The method of claim 84 wherein said generally opposing major sides are configured to define a thickness therebetween and are at least approximately contained with a pair of parallel planes and said bumper configuration is formed to include a length that is generally normal to said parallel planes and greater than said thickness so as to project outwardly beyond each of the parallel planes

86 The method of claim 73 including the step of configunng the housing to include a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a penpheral sidewall extending between said pa r of opposing major sides and said forming step includes the step of extending the resilient support arrangement from said penpheral sidewall to include at least one support member extending between the penpheral sidewall and the host device such that movement of the digital storage aπangement relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on said support member

87 The method of claim 73 including the step of configunng the housing to include a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a penpheral sidewall extending between said parr of opposing major sides and having a plurality of corner regions and said forming step includes the step of extending the resilient support aπangement from said peripheral sidewall at each corner region using one of a plurality of support members, one of which support members extends between each comer region and the host device, such that the housing is supported, in the absence of said mechanical shock, having each of said support members under stress

88 The method of claim 87 including the step of aπanging said support members such that movement of the digital storage aπangement relative to the host device penodically places dynamic mechanical stress on said support members in a way which attenuates the movement

89 The method of claim 88 wherein said support members and said movement margin are cooperatively configured for providing an approximately equal amount of attenuation about three orthogonal axes of rotation

90 The method of claim 88 including the step of forming said support members to provide a controlled response for each one of six degrees of freedom

91 The method of claim 73 wherein said housing is aπanged m said storage device cavity such that the movement margin serves, at least in part, to limit a thermal transfer rate between the host device and the housing

92 The method of claim 73 wherein said resilient support aπangement is formed to include at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing having a distal end configuration defining a pair of opposing contact points for supportingly engaging said host device

93 The method of claim 92 including the step of anang g said distal end configuration for capture by the host device in a way which biases the pair of opposing contact points towards one another

94. The method of claim 93 wherein said distal end configuration is arranged to include a support column having a pair of opposing ends, each of which defines one of said contact points.

95. The method of claim 94 wherein said housing is configured to define a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and said support column is formed to define an elongation axis that is at least generally normal to the opposing major sides prior to capture of the support column by the host device.

96. The method of claim 73 wherein said resilient support aπangement is formed to include at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing and a distal end configuration for supportingly engaging said host device and said resilient arm is aπanged including a bumper configuration proximate to said housing that moves with the housing and relative to the host device such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device when the housing moves having a sufficient component of movement along a selected direction.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein said housing is formed to define a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and said bumper configuration is configured to come into contact with the host device when the sufficient component of movement is normal to said opposing major sides.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein said housing is configured including a housing outline which defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides having a thickness therebetween and which are at least approximately contained within a pair of parallel planes and said bumper configuration is formed including a length that is generally normal to said parallel planes and greater than said thickness so as to project outwardly beyond each of the parallel planes.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein said bumper configuration is formed to include a pair of bumper columns aπanged along a side margin of said support arm and to define said length normal to the opposing planes.

100. The method of claim 73 wherein said housing is providing including a base portion and a cover portion having a latching arrangement that forms part of the cover portion and part of the base portion for attaching the cover portion to the base portion.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein said cover portion is formed to include a plurality of latching arms that are moveable at least from an unlatched position to a latched position, as one part of said latching aπangement, and said base portion is formed to define a plurality of latching recesses, as another part of said latching arrangement, such that the latching arms in said unlatched position are alignable with the latching recesses upon placing the cover portion on the base portion and said latching arms are then moveable to the latched position to attach the cover portion onto the base portion.

102. The method of claim 101 including the steps of forming said cover portion from a sheet material and stamping said latching arms as an integral portion of said sheet material. 103 The method of claim 73 wherein said housing is formed to include a base portion and a cover portion that are attachable with one another and said resilient support aπangement is formed as an integral portion of a resilient arrangement further formed with a gasket portion, that is integrally formed therewith, to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means with the housing

104 The method of claim 103 including the step of fixedly positioning said gasket portion in one of the base portion and the cover portion and forming said gasket portion to include a sealing configuration for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion and said gasket portion is further formed to define a biasing configuration, separate from said sealing configuration, for resiliently biasing attached ones of the cover and base portion away from one another

105 The method of claim 104 including the step of molding said gasket into position said cover portion

106 The method of claim 104 including the steps of attaching the gasket portion to the cover portion and forming a plurality of biasing pedestals, as part of said biasing configuration, which are arranged to contact the base portion to resiliently bias the base and cover portions away from one another in a controlled way

107 The method of claim 103 wherein said cover portion formed to include a first panel defining a first major side of the cover portion and including the step of attaching said gasket portion at least partially to an inner surface of said first major side

108 The method of claim 107 including the steps of forming said cover portion to include a peripheral sidewall extending outwardly from said first major side and attaching said gasket portion at least partially to an inner area of said penpheral sidewall

109 The method of claim 94 wherein said cover portion is formed to include a first panel defining a first major area and having a penphery and to further include a sidewall extending transversely from said penphery m a way which cooperates with the first panel to define a penpheral corner region and including the step of fixedly disposing said gasket portion, at least in part, m said corner region

110 The method of claim 109 including the step of molding said gasket portion into the penpheral comer region

111 The method of claim 109 including the step of aπanging said base portion to include a penpheral sealing nm that is configured to engage the gasket portion to seal the digital storage means within said housing

112 The method of claim 103 including the steps of defining a plurality of through-holes in said cover portion holes and molding said resilient arrangement into said through-holes to serve, at least in part, to positionally retain the gasket portion and the resilient support aπangement

113 The method of claim 112 wherein said cover portion is formed to include a first panel defining a major surface of the cover portion and to define said through-holes 114 The method of claim 112 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material which defines said through-holes and which includes an outer surface and the molding step extends said resilient arrangement through each through hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper outward of each through-hole as one of a plurality of resilient bumpers

115 The method of claim 114 wherein said cover portion is configured to include a major panel and a peripheral sidewall attached at a penphery of the major panel and including the step of forrmng at least one group of said plurality of resilient bumpers to extend outwardly from said major panel

116 The method of claim 115 wherein at least another group of said plurality of resilient bumpers is formed to extend outwardly from said peripheral sidewall

117 The method of claim 114 wherein the step of forming said plurality of resilient bumpers forms a bumper configuration for initially contacting the host device at a periphery of the movement margin

118 The method of claim 73 wherein said digital storage means may be subjected to a given vibration through the host device and including the step of configunng said resilient support aπangement for damping the given vibration

119 The method of claim 112 including the steps of forming said cover portion from a sheet matenal to define said through-holes and having an outer surface and extending said resilient aπangement through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper which extends continuously between at least two of said through-holes

120 The method of claim 119 wherein said cover portion includes a penphery and the step of extending the resilient arrangement includes the step of forming said resilient bumper continuously about the penphery of the cover portion

121 The method of claim 119 including the steps of forming said cover portion including a penpheral corner region and the step of extending the resilient arrangement includes the step of forrmng said resilient bumper continuously about the penpheral comer region

122 The method of claim 121 wherein the cover portion is formed so that said penpheral comer region includes a beveled surface formed between a major side of the cover portion and a suπounding, penpheral sidewall and said forming step forms said resilient bumper on the beveled surface and within a cover outline that is defined by extension of the penpheral sidewall and the major side m said penpheral comer region

123 A digital storage arrangement electncally interfaceable with a host device, said host device defining a storage device cavity, said digital storage aπangement comprising a housing receivable the storage device cavity m a way which provides a movement margin between the housing and the host device, digital storage means supported withm said housing and being susceptible to a given mechanical shock at least to a limited extent, a flexible electrical interconnection aπangement electrically interfacing the digital storage means to the host device; and a support arrangement connected to said host device and to said housing and extending therebetween to support the housing in a way which provides for a controlled response with movement of the housing relative to the host device in six degrees of freedom responsive to the given mechanical shock.

124. The digital storage arrangement of claim 123 wherein said support aπangement is configured for constraining movement of the housing in so as to avoid contact with the host device for the given force.

125. An electronic assembly comprising: a digital storage aπangement including a housing and digital storage means, susceptible to a given mechanical shock at least to a limited extent, supported within said housing; a host device electrically interfaceable with said digital storage aπangement, said host device defining a storage device cavity for receiving the digital storage aπangement; a flexible electrical interconnection aπangement providing electrical communication between the digital storage means and the host device; and a resilient support arrangement connected to said host device and to said housing and extending therebetween to support the housing within the storage device cavity in a way which subjects the digital storage arrangement and, in turn, the digital storage means to a lesser degree of mechanical shock when the host device receives said given mechanical shock.

126. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said electrical interconnection aπangement is configured at least for maintaining electrical communication between the digital storage arrangement and the host device prior to and at a time following receipt of said given mechanical shock by the host device.

127. The assembly of claim 126 wherein said electrical interconnection arrangement is configured so as to substantially reduce contribution to the lesser degree of mechanical shock received by the digital storage arrangement.

128. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said digital storage means is electromechanical.

129. The assembly of claim 128 wherein said digital storage means includes a rotatable media and a head arrangement configured at least for reading the rotatable media.

130. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes a resilient material having a shock attenuation property extending through said movement margin.

131. The assembly of claim 130 wherein said resilient material is a low modulus material.

132. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said housing includes a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a peripheral sidewall extending between said opposing major sides and wherein said resilient support arrangement extends from said peripheral sidewall.

133. The assembly of claim 132 wherein said peripheral sidewall defines a plurality of comer regions and wherein said resilient support arrangement provides support by extending from each corner region to the host device.

134. The assembly of claim 133 wherein said peripheral sidewall at each co er region defines a through opening and said resilient support arrangement includes at least one portion within the peripheral sidewall and another portion which extends outwardly therefrom through said through opening to the host device.

135. The assembly of claim 134 wherein said portion of the resilient support arrangement within the peripheral sidewall forms a bumper configuration that moves with the housing such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device with movement of the housing relative to the host device.

136. The assembly of claim 135 wherein said housing defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and said bumper configuration defines at least one bumper which extends outwardly with respect to a plane that is at least generally coincident with one of said major sides for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

137. The assembly of claim 135 wherein said housing defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides and a sidewall extending therebetween and said bumper configuration defines at least one bumper which extends outwardly through said sidewall for contacting the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device.

138. The assembly of claim 132 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes at least one resilient support arm extending between the peripheral sidewall and the host device such that movement of the digital storage aπangement relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on said resilient support arm.

139. The assembly of claim 132 wherein said peripheral sidewall defines a plurality of corner regions and said resilient support aπangement supports the comer regions using a plurality of support members, one of which support members extends between each comer region and the host device such that the housing is supported, in the absence of said mechanical shock, having each of said support members under stress.

140. The assembly of claim 139 wherein said support members are arranged such that movement of the digital storage aπangement relative to the host device places dynamic mechanical stress on said support members in a way which attenuates the movement.

141. The assembly of claim 140 wherein said support members and said movement margin are cooperatively configured for permitting mechanically induced movement of the housing relative to the host device in six degrees of freedom to provide a controlled response for each one of the six degrees of freedom.

142. The assembly of claim 140 wherein said support members are cooperatively configured for providing an approximately equal amount of attenuation about three orthogonal axes of rotation.

143. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said housing is arranged in said storage device cavity to provide thermal isolation between the host device and the digital storage arrangement.

144. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said resilient support aπangement includes at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing and having a distal end configuration defining a pair of opposing contact points for supportingly engaging said host device.

145. The assembly of claim 144 wherein said distal end configuration is configured for capture by the host device in a way which biases the pair of opposing contact points towards one another.

146. The assembly of claim 145 wherein said distal end configuration includes a support column having a pair of opposing ends, each of which defines one of said contact points.

147. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said resilient support arrangement includes at least one integrally formed resilient arm extending outwardly from said housing and having a distal end configuration for supportingly engaging said host device and said resilient arm includes a bumper configuration proximate to said housing that is configured to move with the housing and relative to the host device such that the bumper configuration comes into contact with the host device prior to direct contact between the housing and the host device when the housing moves having a sufficient component of movement along a selected direction.

148. The assembly of claim 147 wherein said housing includes a housing outline which defines a pair of at least generally opposing major sides having a thickness therebetween and which are at least approximately contained within a pair of parallel planes and said bumper configuration includes a length generally normal to said parallel planes and greater than said thickness so as to project outwardly beyond each of the parallel planes.

149. The assembly of claim 148 wherein said bumper configuration includes a pair of bumper columns arranged along a side margin of said support arm and defining said length normal to the opposing planes.

150. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said housing includes a base portion and a cover portion that are attachable with one another using a latching arrangement that forms part of the cover portion and part of the base portion.

151. The assembly of claim 150 wherein said cover portion includes a plurality of latching arms that are moveable at least from an unlatched position to a latched position, as one part of said latching arrangement, and said base portion defines a plurality of latching recesses, as another part of said latching aπangement, such that the latching arms in said unlatched position are alignable with the latching recesses upon placing the cover portion on the base portion and said latching arms are then moveable to the latched position to attach the cover portion onto the base portion.

152. The assembly of claim 151 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material and said latching arms are stamped as an integral portion of said sheet material.

153. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said housing includes a base portion and a cover portion that are attachable with one another and said resilient support aπangement is an integrally formed portion of a resilient aπangement further including a gasket portion that is integrally formed therewith to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion to one another for sealing the digital storage means within the housing.

154. The assembly of claim 153 wherein said gasket portion is fixedly positioned in one of the base portion and the cover portion and said gasket portion includes a sealing configuration for engaging the other one of the base portion and the cover portion and said gasket portion further defines a biasing configuration, separate from said sealing configuration, for resiliently biasing attached ones of the cover and base portion away from one another.

155. The assembly of claim 154 wherein said gasket portion is molded into position in said cover portion.

156. The assembly of claim 154 wherein said gasket portion is attached to the cover portion and said biasing configuration includes a plurality of biasing pedestals which contact the base portion to resiliently bias the base and cover portions away from one another in a controlled way.

157. The assembly of claim 153 wherein said cover portion includes a first panel defining a first major side of the cover portion and said gasket portion is attached at least partially to an inner surface of said first major side.

158. The assembly of claim 157 wherein said cover portion includes a peripheral sidewall extending outwardly from said first major side and said gasket portion is attached at least partially to an inner area of said peripheral sidewall.

159. The assembly of claim 153 wherein said cover portion includes a first panel defining a first major area and having a periphery and further includes a sidewall extending transversely from said periphery in a way which cooperates with the first panel to define a peripheral corner region and said gasket portion is fixedly disposed, at least in part, in said comer region.

160. The assembly of claim 159 wherein said gasket portion is molded into the peripheral comer region.

161. The assembly of claim 159 wherein said base portion includes a peripheral sealing rim that is configured to engage the gasket portion to seal the digital storage means within said housing.

162. The assembly of claim 153 wherein said cover portion defines a plurality of through-holes into which said resilient aπangement is molded to serve, at least in part, to positionally retain the gasket portion and the resilient support aπangement.

163. The assembly of claim 162 wherein said cover portion includes a first panel defining a major surface of the cover portion and which defines said through-holes.

164. The assembly of claim 162 wherein said cover portion is formed from a sheet material which defines said through-holes and which includes an outer surface and said resilient aπangement extends through each through-hole outwardly from said outer surface to form a resilient bumper outward of each through-hole as one of a plurality of resilient bumpers.

165. The assembly of claim 164 wherein said cover portion includes a major panel and a peripheral sidewall attached at a periphery of the major panel and wherein at least one group of said plurality of resilient bumpers is formed to extend outwardly from said major panel.

166. The assembly of claim 165 wherein at least another group of said plurality of resilient bumpers extends outwardly from said peripheral sidewall.

167. The assembly of claim 164 wherein said plurality of resilient bumpers forms a bumper configuration for initially contacting the host device at a periphery of the movement margin.

168. The assembly of claim 125 wherein said digital storage aπangement may be subjected to a given vibration through the host device and wherein said resilient support aπangement is configured for damping the given vibration.

169. A digital storage configuration, comprising: a housing including a cover portion and a base portion configured for cooperatively defining a housing cavity; digital storage means supported within said housing cavity; a recirculation filter for filtering air within the housing cavity; and an aπangement that is integrally formed from a resilient material (i) for sealing the cover portion against the base portion and (ii) for at least partially supporting said recirculation filter within the housing cavity.

170. The digital storage configuration of claim 169 wherein said aπangement further defines, at least partially, a filter passage for directing air through the recirculation filter.

171. The digital storage configuration of claim 169 wherein said cover portion includes a sealing periphery and said base portion defines a peripheral sealing lip and said aπangement is configured to cooperate with the sealing periphery and the peripheral sealing lip in a way which seals the cover portion to the base portion and said aπangement is supported by one of the base portion and cover portion such that attaching the cover portion to the base portion captures the recirculation filter between the cover portion and the base portion.

1 2. In producing a digital storage configuration, a method comprising the steps of: configuring a housing including a cover portion and a base portion for cooperatively defining a housing cavity; supporting digital storage means within said housing cavity; providing a recirculation filter for filtering air within the housing cavity; using a resilient material, integrally forming an arrangement (i) for sealing the cover portion against the base portion and (ii) for at least partially supporting said recirculation filter within the housing cavity.

173. The method of claim 172 wherein the step of forming said aπangement includes the step of defining, at least partially, a filter passage for directing air through the recirculation filter.

174. The method of claim 172 wherein said cover portion includes a sealing periphery and said base portion defines a peripheral sealing lip and said method includes the steps of supporting said arrangement using one of the base portion and cover portion, configuring said arrangement to cooperate with the sealing periphery and the peripheral sealing lip to seal attached ones of the cover portion and the base portion, and attaching the cover portion to the base portion to capture the recirculation filter between said aπangement and the other one of the cover portion and the base portion.

175. A digital storage arrangement which is electrically interfaceable with a host device, said digital storage arrangement comprising: digital storage means susceptible to a mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent; a base arrangement supporting said digital storage means; and a cover aπangement attached to the base arrangement for housing the digital storage means within a cavity that is cooperatively defined by attached ones of the base arrangement and the cover arrangement in a way which permits movement of the base aπangement relative to the cover aπangement and said cover arrangement is configured for engagement by said host device such that the base arrangement, and digital storage means supported thereby, are at least partially isolated from said mechanical shock received by the host device by movement of the base arrangement relative to the cover arrangement.

176. The digital storage aπangement of claim 175 including a resilient arrangement having a damping portion positioned between the base arrangement and the cover aπangement such that a sufficient amount of relative movement between the base aπangement and the cover arrangement compresses the damping portion to isolate the base aπangement and digital storage means supported thereby from the mechanical shock.

177. The digital storage arrangement of claim 176 wherein said cover portion includes a peripheral sidewall defining a plurality of cover corners and the base aπangement defines a plurality of base co ers coπesponding to said cover corners such that, when the base arrangement is attached to the cover arrangement, each base comer is in a spaced- apart relationship with one of the cover comers and said damping portion includes a plurality of corner cushions, one of which is positioned between each spaced-apart base comer and cover comer.

178. The digital storage arrangement of claim 176 wherein said resilient arrangement includes a sealing portion, integrally formed with the damping portion, for sealing attached ones of the cover arrangement and the base arrangement to one another.

179. The digital storage arrangement of claim 176 wherein said resilient aπangement includes an integrally formed biasing portion for providing a biasing force to resiliently bias attached ones of the cover arrangement and base aπangement away from one another and for serving as part of said damping portion at least to limit movement of the cover aπangement and base aπangement towards one another in a direction that is generally opposite of said biasing force.

180. The digital storage aπangement of claim 179 wherein said resilient arrangement includes a plurality of latching arms forming part of said cover aπangement for selectively attaching the cover arrangement to the base arrangement in a way which permits said relative movement.

181. In the manufacture of a digital storage aπangement which is electrically interfaceable with a host device and which includes digital storage means that is susceptible to a mechanical shock, at least to a limited extent, a method comprising the steps of: supporting said digital storage means using a base arrangement; attaching the base aπangement to a cover arrangement to position the digital storage means within a cavity that is cooperatively defined by the attached base arrangement and cover aπangement in a way which permits movement of the base arrangement relative to the cover aπangement; and configuring the cover aπangement for engaging said host device such that the base arrangement and the digital storage means supported thereby are at least partially isolated from said mechanical shock received by the host device by movement of the base aπangement relative to the cover arrangement.

182. The method of claim 181 including the step of positioning a damping arrangement between the base arrangement and the cover aπangement such that a sufficient amount of relative movement between the base arrangement and the cover aπangement compresses the damping arrangement to at least partially isolate the base arrangement and digital storage means supported thereby from the mechanical shock.

183. The method of claim 182 wherein said cover portion includes a peripheral sidewall defining a plurality of cover corners and the base arrangement defines a plurality of base comers coπesponding to said cover co ers such that, when the base aπangement is attached to the cover aπangement, each base comer is in a spaced-apart relationship with one of the cover comers and said positioning step places the damping aπangement at least generally between each spaced-apart base comer and cover co er.

184. The method of claim 182 including the step of integrally forming a resilient aπangement which includes said damping aπangement and which further includes a sealing portion for sealing attached ones of the cover aπangement and the base aπangement to one another.

185. The method of claim 184 wherein the step of integrally forming said resilient aπangement includes the step of forming a biasing portion for providing a biasing force to resiliently bias attached ones of the cover aπangement and base aπangement away from one another and for serving as part of said damping portion at least to limit movement of the cover aπangement and base aπangement towards one another in a direction that is generally opposite of said biasing force.

186. The method of claim 185 including the step of forming a plurality of latching arms, as part of said cover aπangement, for selectively attaching the cover aπangement to the base aπangement in a way which peπnits said relative movement.